The Huffington Post
For someone who writes a lot about gardening, I don’t actually have a garden of my own – in fact, I don’t even have a balcony. Instead, I’ve got some windowsills, only one of which is sun-facing. For a long time, I thought that meant growing anything bigger than a cactus was out of bounds. But when I did have a back garden, I remember how rampant mint grew in it. The plant is so unstoppable that some gardening experts say to avoid planting mint in the ground altogether because of how stubbornly and easily it spreads. So, after the recent purchase of a £1.80 supermarket mint plant, I figured I’d try my definitely-not-green-thumbed hand at propagating it at home. Despite some significant mistakes, a tiny growing space, and some accidental neglect, here’s how it’s going less than a month later (this is the difference from 2-28 May): Supermarket potted mint plant on the left: the same mint plant, but with more growth, on the right How can I grow my own mint from a supermarket plant? 1) Divide or get a cutting from the plant I began by removing the mint from its pot. That’s because most of the time, the pots that supermarket plants come in are too small for them to last long, not least because they can become root-bound. Then, with the mint upside-down (over the sink for easy cleaning), I gently teased the rootball apart to get two mint halves. Gardening expert Simon Akeroyd recommended another method , though. He removed some mint shoots from a supermarket plant, stripped off the lower leaves, placed the half-bare stems in water, and waited for them to form roots. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) said that either division (splitting an established plant, like I did) or cuttings (Simon’s method) works for mint. The plant's roots, which I split into two 2) Repot the mint I placed the container’s soil in some bigger plant pots with drainage holes and saucers (it’s better to water potted plants from below ). Then, I made space for the mint in the containers and placed each half in its own pot. If you’re working with cuttings, wait until roots have formed to repot your plant. And if you need more soil, grab some peat-free compost. Don’t make the mistake I made, though: according to Hayloft , mint does best in a bigger plant pot, at least 30cm in diameter and width. Not only does this mean the fast-spreading plant can spread its ever-reaching limbs better, but it doesn’t dry out as quickly as smaller ones either. I’m constantly watering mine. Divided and repotted plants 3) Water when needed Though some experts say potted mint plants need watering about every three to four times a week, that all depends on the size of your pot, the stage of your plant’s growth, and the weather. A more sensitive way to tell if your plant’s thirsty is with a “knuckle test”. The RHS recommended, “Push your finger down into the compost or soil to at least knuckle depth to see if it is damp, rather than just feeling the surface”. 4) Pick mint leaves regularly This is where I’ve been letting my plant down. I’m so proud of its flourishing leaves that I’m loath to actually use them – but experts point out I’m actually stunting its growth. Picking mint leaves regularly stops the plant from becoming leggy and sprawling, like mine, the RHS said . “Choose the young, soft shoot tips for the most intense flavour. The more you pick, the more they’ll produce,” they advised. 5) Store any unused mint in the freezer If you’re not using your mint immediately, the RHS added, freezing it immediately after picking can help to preserve its flavour. Happy planting! Related... June's One Of The Busiest Months For Gardening – These Are The Jobs To Prioritise Wildlife Charity Urges Gardeners To Give An 'Extra Hand' This Week No Matter How Badly You Want To, Don't Water Your Lawn Right Now
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